Diotisalvi
Encyclopedia
Diotisalvi, Deotisalvi or Deustesalvet was an architect
from Pisa
, Italy
, active in the 12th century in Pisa. Little is known of him.
, in Piazza dei Miracoli, as we can read in the sign he left inside the building, with the date 1152 (1153 stile pisano):
MCLIII, MENSE AUGUSTI FUNDATA FUIT HAEC ECCLESIA
DEUSTESALVET MAGISTER HUIUS OPERIS
Although he did the original project, the present Baptistery was different than his idea. In fact, he constructed only the first part, the ground floor. The building was continued after his death by Nicola Pisano
, a century after its foundation, and then completed by Giovanni Pisano
. They changed many things in the final form of the building, that was intended to be simpler with no gothic cusps and no dome, just a small, and high, pyramidal roof. This was connected to the fact that he wanted to resemble the Anastasis in the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
in Jerusalem. Maybe Diotisalvi wanted to replicate his previous work of the church of Holy Sepulchre in Pisa, 40 years before.
The church of Holy Sepulchre
, was built in the first part of 12th century. There are proofs that it existed in 1113. The church has an octagonal shape and a pyramidal roof. Inside the belltower, there is a sign where Deustesalvet claims to be the fabricator, i.e. contructor of the building. The inside was meant to resemble the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, while the outside was meant to resemble the Mosque of Omar, even in Jerusalem, because in that time was believed that the mosque was the Solomon's Temple
. There are many churches in Europe dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre in octagonal or circular shape. We can cite the one in Bologna
, Italy, inside the complex of Saint Stephen, or the one in Cambridge
, or the Temple Church
in London
, United Kingdom
.
He was fabricator in 1113, and magister in 1153. That means he refined his art in some school, maybe the construction works of the Cathedral.
He did some other works, but without signing them.
The chapel of Saint Agatha, a small chapel behind the church of Saint Paul a Ripa d'Arno
. The small building was maybe originally built in 1063 by the monks, but the present shape was by a Diotisalvi. The first certification of the existence of the chapel is in 1132, maybe after the architect worked on it. It is in the usual octagonal shape, with a pyramidal roof.
The bell tower of the church of St Nicholas
. It has an octagonal shape, and a pyramidal roof, as all the other buildings by Diotisalvi. It was built in 1170, although there are no proofs, but only hypothesis. The bell-chamber instead is hexagonal with one window in every side. Inside there is a winding staircase, with a wall only on the external part, unlikely the Leaning Tower of Pisa
. It was separated from the nearby buildings in origin, and it is slightly tilting.
Recent studies attribute by analogies also the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
(1173) to magister Diotisalvi. The shape, the construction, the affinity with the belltower of St. Nicholas all bring to the mind the work of Diotisalvi. Like the Baptistery the tower wasn't complete by him, maybe, just like the Baptistery, was Giovanni Pisano the last architect. That should explain why there is no pyramidal roof like all the other buildings.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
from Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, active in the 12th century in Pisa. Little is known of him.
Biography
He is well known to be the original architect of Baptistry of PisaBaptistry (Pisa)
The Baptistry of St. John is a religious building in Pisa, Italy. It started construction in 1152, in replacement of an older baptistry, and completed in 1363...
, in Piazza dei Miracoli, as we can read in the sign he left inside the building, with the date 1152 (1153 stile pisano):
Although he did the original project, the present Baptistery was different than his idea. In fact, he constructed only the first part, the ground floor. The building was continued after his death by Nicola Pisano
Nicola Pisano
Nicola Pisano was an Italian sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered to be the founder of modern sculpture.- Early life :His birth date or origins are uncertain...
, a century after its foundation, and then completed by Giovanni Pisano
Giovanni Pisano
Giovanni Pisano was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect. Son of the famous sculptor Nicola Pisano, he received his training in the workshop of his father....
. They changed many things in the final form of the building, that was intended to be simpler with no gothic cusps and no dome, just a small, and high, pyramidal roof. This was connected to the fact that he wanted to resemble the Anastasis in the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
in Jerusalem. Maybe Diotisalvi wanted to replicate his previous work of the church of Holy Sepulchre in Pisa, 40 years before.
The church of Holy Sepulchre
Santo Sepolcro (Pisa)
The Church of the Santo Sepolcro is a religious edifice in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy....
, was built in the first part of 12th century. There are proofs that it existed in 1113. The church has an octagonal shape and a pyramidal roof. Inside the belltower, there is a sign where Deustesalvet claims to be the fabricator, i.e. contructor of the building. The inside was meant to resemble the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, while the outside was meant to resemble the Mosque of Omar, even in Jerusalem, because in that time was believed that the mosque was the Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
. There are many churches in Europe dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre in octagonal or circular shape. We can cite the one in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Italy, inside the complex of Saint Stephen, or the one in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, or the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
He was fabricator in 1113, and magister in 1153. That means he refined his art in some school, maybe the construction works of the Cathedral.
He did some other works, but without signing them.
The chapel of Saint Agatha, a small chapel behind the church of Saint Paul a Ripa d'Arno
San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno
San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the most outstanding Romanesque churches in Tuscany...
. The small building was maybe originally built in 1063 by the monks, but the present shape was by a Diotisalvi. The first certification of the existence of the chapel is in 1132, maybe after the architect worked on it. It is in the usual octagonal shape, with a pyramidal roof.
The bell tower of the church of St Nicholas
San Nicola (Pisa)
San Nicola is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.-Church:San Nicola is mentioned for the first time, together with the annexed convent, in 1097. In 1297-1313 the Augustinians enlarged it, perhaps under design by Giovanni Pisano...
. It has an octagonal shape, and a pyramidal roof, as all the other buildings by Diotisalvi. It was built in 1170, although there are no proofs, but only hypothesis. The bell-chamber instead is hexagonal with one window in every side. Inside there is a winding staircase, with a wall only on the external part, unlikely the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa...
. It was separated from the nearby buildings in origin, and it is slightly tilting.
Recent studies attribute by analogies also the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa...
(1173) to magister Diotisalvi. The shape, the construction, the affinity with the belltower of St. Nicholas all bring to the mind the work of Diotisalvi. Like the Baptistery the tower wasn't complete by him, maybe, just like the Baptistery, was Giovanni Pisano the last architect. That should explain why there is no pyramidal roof like all the other buildings.